James j



(No Model.) J. J. DUNN.

FOLDING UONFESSIONAL. 4 No. 399,888. Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. DUNN, ()F l\IEAT)YII.I.E, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING CONFESSIONAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,388, dated March12, 1889.

Application filed October 15, 1888. gerial No. 288,067. No model.)

State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved FoldingConfessional, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to eonfessionals for use in Roman (.atholicchurches, and has for its object to provide a confessional which isportable and can be folded up, whereby it can be instantly set up foruse in any part of a church, may be folded up and removed out ingunfolded at a right angle to each other, as shown in Fig. .l.

of the way, and will afford proper ventilation. 1

books, spectacles, and writing materials. If

The invention consists in a folding confessional constructed andarranged as hereinaf ter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the am'om mnving drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar figures of reference indicate in use, it may be foldedup compactly and corresponding parts in all the views.

lrigure 1 a view of the confessional in position for use. Fig. 9 is anend view thereof, showing it folded; and Fig. 3 is a detail showing aportion of the screens of the confessional and their hinge-connection.

In carrying out the invention the confessional is constructed withanumber of screens hinged together to fold up, and, as here shown,consists of three screens, 1 1 and 2, hinged together by means of hinges2 and made so as to fold up in any suitable manner, and are preferablyformed of light wooden frames 3, the screens .1. 1 having green ljiaize,4-, or other material stretched thereon, and the screen 2 a panel, 5, oflight wood or other rigid material. The screen 2, which isinclosedbetween the screens 1 1 when the confessional is folded up, is providedwith a window or opening, (3, of suitable size and shape, and preferablycovered with a wire net-work, 7, or a grating. A hand-rest, 8, ishingedto panelo on one side thereof beneath the opening (3, and is heldin open position by brackets 51, hinged to its ends. \Vhen theconfessional is folded, the hand'rest S folds up against the screen 2,as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. On the opposite side, beneath theopening or window, is a corresponding foldable hand-rest for the use ofthe confessor. At the bottom of one An arm-chair for the confessor islocated on one side of the screen 2, and the penitent uses theki'leeling-stool and hand-rest on the other. 'hen desirable, pockets maybe provided in the sides of the screen for holding greater privacy isdesired, additional screens can be attached.

iv being portable the confessional may be used in the warmest parts ofthe church in winter and the coolest in summer. \Vhen not put asidewithout taking up much room. \Vhile it affords all the seclusionneeded,it is at the same time so open as to afford plenty of fresh airawant verymuch felt in the old form of confessional.

It will be observed that the screens are held at such adistance apart bymeans of their hinge as to permit the handrest and kneel lllgSIOOl,folded up, to lie between two screens when the confessional is folded.

By means of this invention a light, servim 1 able, and convenientconfessional isprovided which attords ventilation and comfort.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

.l. A folding confessional consisting in a middle screen having awiudowor openingin its upper part and the outerscrecns hinged to thesame vertical edge of the middle screen, substantially as set forth.

A religicnis confessional consisting of a series of screens hingedtogether to be folded. up and set up on end in unfolded position, one ofthe screens forming an intervening screen having a confessional windowor opening, a foldabl hand-rest attached to the screen beneath thewindow, and on the opposite side beneath the window a folding hand-restfor the confessor, and a foldable kneeling-stool beneath the handrestattached to the confesto their ends, and a kneeling-stool consisting ofboard 10, hinged at one end to screen 1 to sional, substantially asshown and described. fold up against the latter, and having a fold- 3, Areligious confessional consisting of screens 1 1 and 2, connectedtogetherby hinges 2, the screens 1 1 being formed of frames 3, having alight material stretched over them, and the screen 2 being formed of aframe, 3, having a rigid panel, 5, an opening, 6, covered by a grating,7, foldable hand-rests 8, hinged to-screen 2 beneath opening 6, andhaving depending foldable bracket-supports 9 hinged able hinged leg orsupport, 11, the screens, hand-rest, and kneeling-stool being foldabletogether, substantially as shown and described.

JAMES J. DUNN.

Vi tnesses:

B. E. OKEEFFE, F. WINTER.

